New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

Width for my narrowish feet was fine but didn’t feel they were true to size – half size too short due to the last, offset upper design and raised toe – got a blister on my big toe ! The first thing that everyone should know about the Rebel V2’s upper is that it fits small. If you usually size into a US 9, then the appropriate size for the Rebel should be US 9.5. The New Balance Rebel v3 is one of those trainers that just keeps getting better and better with each update. New Balance said that their goal with the new version was to make it appeal to a wider group of runners, to make it 10 – 15% more democratic.

FuelCell Rebel v3 Review | Coach - coachmaguk New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3 Review | Coach - coachmaguk

I don’t know how many people will run this in extreme cold temps, but the extremely soft midsole gets stiff when cold. The durometer of the midsole increases 115.4% from 6.5HA to 14HA, the largest difference in change in any shoe we’ve tested, but even at 14HA it’s under the average stiffness of room temp shoes (22.3HA). Thus, we think that there’s still work to do on this part, as it remains a little below the average compared to other road running shoes. Weight: 9/10 I was surprised how soft the midsole felt. It was more like a max-cushioned trainer than a firm, lightweight, tempo one. The ride felt really smooth, natural and had a decent amount of energy return.And the slightly stretchy lace which scored 3 out of 5 on our lace stretch test (5 being the stretchiest) gave enough for comfort over the top of your foot but not so much to cause slipping or sliding in the shoe. Amazing value

Fuelcell Performance Running Shoes - New Balance

The Rebel v2 doesn’t feel like a tempo trainer anymore because of how soft and flexible it is. All the shoes mentioned above are better shoes for speedwork. The minimal outsole rubber on the Rebel v2 has worn evenly and less than I would have expected from a lightweight shoe. TYLER HAYES Remember those kiddo plastic rulers that changed designs depending on the angle? The shape-shifting trim on the midsole is a pleasant element of discovery. While the Rebel V1’s Fuelcell midsole wasn’t bad, the V2 elevates its game by using the same Fuelcell foam as the RC Elite and Fuelcell TC. There are a couple of potential problem areas. The first is the ultra-thin upper mesh, pictured here in shimmery white.This shoe can do it all! It’s soft and plush working well on recovery days or for longer runs, but the midsole is bouncy and energetic enough to speed things up on tempo days too. The Rebel v3 is also comfortable enough for most easy runs. The one exception for me was a recovery run the day after a particularly long run, when I found that it didn’t provide enough protection for tired legs – I’d rather be in a max-cushioned shoe like the New Balance More v4 to shuffle through those runs. The FuelCell Rebel v2 are roomy, lightweight and have a bouncy midsole foam—all combined, they elicit enthusiasm for running that few shoes do. While they may not be perfect in every way, they're fun. Did you know running shoes could be fun? First Impressions

Shoe Review: New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 – Run161 Shoe Review: New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 – Run161

Peter: Yep, traction is surprisingly good, shoe can bottom out a bit--especially going down steep grade. It’s a nice balance of having plenty of rubber to meet the road, but keeping the weight down I must be honest, when images of the Rebel v2 first leaked online last year, I wasn’t impressed. However, after seeing it in hand and in marketing material, I’m now a big fan of the design. Unlike standard EVA foam or even rubber-blend materials like the Nike React, the New Balance Fuelcell foam did not stiffen in the cold and retained its cushioned bounciness. Trying to run fast on wet, paved roads with a bit of surface water? Tread carefully, particularly through turns. Wear and Tear

One point of note for those who use running power meters that measures air resistance. The offset lacing is likely to muddle your wind readings. As a result, you’ll likely see lower power numbers compared to shoes with a plain old straight split. Sole and Ride Puma Liberate Nitro Review - Super light offering from Puma that absolutely rips the road for those with the right experience and strength Out of the box, the FuelCell Rebel v2's felt worn in and ready to go. They didn't feel used, they just felt comfortable. The generous toe-box space and flimsy flexible upper both help accomplish this immediate level of familiarity. Also, maybe it's just me, but no matter what running shoe I try on, I always expect them to be noticeably bouncy as I trot around my living room for the first time. Most of the time, there's a gap between reality and expectations—whether those expectations are realistic or not. This time, however, the FuelCell Rebel v2 aligned exactly with what was in my mind.

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 review - RunRepeat

I took the Rebel v2 on a 40 kilometre run on two occasions and its performance was excellent. It provided plenty of long-distance comfort and my legs felt great by the end of the runs. You could easily run a full marathon in the Rebel v2. Jacob: Fuel Cell is the name of the game here and I’m a big fan—it’s a single-slab of soft, flexible, bouncy, and energetic foam. This deployment of FuelCell minds me of the Propel v1 in it’s dramatically soft and flexible feel. There is a balanced level of cushion and foam in the Rebel v2 where it’s not tippy at the heel or sink-in-forever feeling like the TC so there is more stability and direct connection with the ground on toe-off. The forefoot has some firmness. However, it is well-cushioned and not harsh. The outsole crash pad works independently to enable smooth landings and transitions for rearfoot strikers. As for the flap material, the raw edges are soft and completely distraction-free – as is the rest of the upper. PROS AND CONSOne notable aspect of the FuelCell product line is that the foam compound may all be FuelCell, but the formulation varies, and it results in a varying underfoot feel. I find some are far less exciting than others, fortunately this is the most lively of the bunch. It’s very soft and bouncy and feels like the top of the line racer – the RC Elite.